Improvement in harvesters



rake.

PATENT ROBERT E. McoonMIoK', OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.-

IMPROVEMENT INHARVIEISTERS.

I Specification forming part of Letters latent To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT HALL MCCOR- MICK, of Chicago, in ihecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harvesters, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to harvesters having two main wheels and a hinged cutting apparatus, and adapted for theme of an automatic Its objects are, first, toprevent the twisting or straining of the frame incident to the common method of attaching the cutting apparatus and raking and reeling mechanism directly to, or suspending them from, one corner of the main frame; and, secondly, to allow-the finger-beam to flex freely on its connections with the main frame.

The subject-matter claimed is hereinafter designated.

Figure 1 represents a plan, and Fig. 2 a side elevation, of so much of a machine embodying my improvements as is necessary to illustrate the invention herein claimed, with the inner driving-wheel removed.

In practice, of course my invention would be used in connection with a fully-organized harvester; but it is deemed unnecessary here to describe any parts except those germane to the subject-matter claimed, the details of construction of a harvester being familiar to all skillful constructers.

Two main wheels, A A, turn on or wiTh an axle, B, 1nounted in anrain frame, 0, from which a tongue, D, projects. Upon the center cross-beam O of the main frame the supporting-bar E is secured. This bar, it will be observed, is Z-shaped; it is madeof iron; its front member is pivoted or bolted fast to the cross-beam; its main portion extends backward centrally between the wheels beyond the rear of the main frame, and its rear portion is bent inward toward the shoe. The bar, it will be noted, is not let into the rear cross-timber of the main frame, but simply rests upon it. A plate, c,,and a staple, e, are employed to hold the supporting-bar in place.

A finger beam, F, is secured at its heel end to a shoe, G, provided with lugs g g, to which the lower ends of two independent couplingarms, H H, are pin-jointed. The opposite N0. 168,27 1, dated September :28, 1875 application filed April 6, 1674.

ends of these arms are pivoted to a common stud, h, on the main frame, but each is free to move independently of the other. A dragbar, I, pivoted or swiveled at 11 near the outer front corner of the main frame, in the same axial plane as the stud It, extends diagonally backward and inward, passing under the coupling-arms, its back end. being bent upward and pin-jointed at i to the rear couplinga-rm H. By this mode of connection, the finger-beam, coupling-arms, and drag-bar have free play on their pivots. The drag-bar, it will be observed, rocks transversely on its pivots as the coupling-arms rise or fall; it also abuts against the rear coupling-arm, and thus acts as a stop to limit the descent of the coupling-arm, while leaving it free to rise; it also forms a fulcrum on which the finger-beam and shoe may be rocked, as' hereinafter explained. A chain, rod, or link, 76,. attached to the rear ends of the supporting-bar and drag-bar, respectively, suspends the cutting apparatus at any desired height. A post, L, mounted upon the shoe, is intended to support proper reeling and raking devices. (Not shown in the drawings.) Theinclination of this post, and of the guards also, is regulated in a well-known way, by an adjustable laterally-rocking brace, M, pivoted on the main frame, and to the post L.

An additional advantage flowing from the use of the suspension-bar is, that I am enabled to extend the post-support inward be-' yond the pivot of the shoe, so as to counterbalance the weight of the divider end of the cutting apparatus, and thus bring its weight upon the pivots of the shoe, which are substantially in the plane of the inner face of the inner supporting-Wheel A. The weight of the cutting apparatus, rake, 850., is, in fact, by this arrangement, thrown directly upon the main frame between the wheels, which tends greatly to diminish side draft. I am also enabled by this arrangement to locate the rakepost so far inside the track of the inner wheel A as materially to diminish the arc necessary to'be traversed by the rake in delivering the gavel out of the path of the team when cutting the succeeding swath.

1 do not broadlyclaim the rake-post and Eric.

to a common stud on the main frame, and the drag-bar pivoted to the main frame near its outer front corner, extending diagonally backward between the wheels and pivoted to the 'rear coupling-arm, these members being constructed and operating in combination substantially as set forth.

In .testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name. 7 I

ROBERT HALL MCCORMICK. Witnesses:

W. R. SELLEoK, F. H. MATTHEWS. 

